Marking of an anodized layer of an aluminium object

Abstract

A marking (3 to 5) is provided in a surface (8) of an element (1) which comprises a substrate (6) of aluminum or an alloy thereof and an anodized outer layer (7) in that a region (10) of the surface (8) is irradiated with a laser beam such that at least one visual property of the surface (8) in said region (10) is changed and a visual marking (3 to 5) is obtained which is observable to the human eye. The laser beam penetrates the anodized outer layer (7) at least to a major degree and induces the change in the at least one visual property substantially locally only in a zone (9) where the anodized outer layer (7) adjoins the substrate (6).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method for marking the surface of a component comprising a substrate as defined in the preamble of claim 1 having an anodized outer layer of aluminum or an alloy thereof. The invention also relates to a component as defined by the preamble of claim 9 having an anodized surface. Background technique [0002] The protective layer of aluminum products obtained by anodizing usually has high hardness, high wear resistance, good adhesion to the substrate, and good heat resistance. This makes anodized surfaces ideal for use as surface protection for items that come into strong contact with other surfaces, such as irons, razors, door handles, buttons, etc. The problem here is that in many cases it is necessary to provide surfaces with eg alphanumeric symbols, emblems, operating instructions, or decorative lines, patterns or other structural markings. In this case, it is important that the mark at least in the above items has subs...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The problem here is that in many cases it is necessary to provide surfaces with, for example, alphanumeric symbols, emblems, operating instructions, or decorative lines, patterns or other structural markings

Although the remaining conversion layer forms a protective layer and prevents the part of the anodized layer adjacent to the formed marking from breaking, this method of marking the anodized layer has the disadvantage that the marking forms an anodized layer thickness Actually reduced by 25-70 (μm), this disadvantage is not conducive to the use of the layer as a sliding layer such as an electric iron

The disadvantage of this method is that a special treatment is necessary to add a contrast-bleaching substance under the influence of laser radiation, and the necessity of adding a contrast-bleaching substance under the influence of laser radiation prevents the coloring of the anodized layer

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